50 America’s Forgotten Postwar Sports Cars

In the postwar era, several sports cars became significant in automotive history. The Kaiser Darrin stood out with its sliding doors and fiberglass body. The Woodill Wildfire also featured a fiberglass body, and the Maverick Sportster impressed with a V8 engine. The small but powerful Crosley Hotshot became a favorite among racing enthusiasts. These models highlighted American innovation in the sports car industry.

The Kaiser Darrin, designed by Howard “Dutch” Darrin in the 1950s, is a forgotten American sports car. Featuring a lightweight fiberglass body and unique sliding doors, it aimed to compete with European models. Only 435 units were produced, making it a rare collectible. With two engine options, it reached speeds up to 124.5 mph. Despite its innovation, sales struggled due to competition and Kaiser Motors’ financial instability.

The Crosley Hotshot, America’s first postwar sports car, debuted in 1949. Designed by Powel Crosley and engineer Paul Klotsch, it marked a departure from Crosley’s minimalist vehicles.

With an 85-inch wheelbase, it was 5 inches longer than earlier models and had drop-down side panels instead of traditional doors. Produced from 1949 to 1952, nearly 2,500 Hotshots were built, along with variations like the Super Hotshot, Super Sports, and Super Sport. These compact sports cars paved the way for the Chevrolet Corvette.

The Glasspar G2, introduced by Bill Tritt in 1949, was America’s first production all-fiberglass sports car, predating the Corvette by two years. Produced from 1951 to 1955, only about 100 were built. These historic cars remain a cherished part of America’s postwar sports car era.

The Cunningham C-3, a Grand Tourer from the early 1950s, was built by the B. S. Cunningham Company to homologate Briggs Cunningham’s racing cars for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This rare American car featured a HEMI engine and an Italian body. Only 26 units were produced between 1952 and 1955, blending American power with European design.

Willys nearly mass-produced it as the Willys Wildfire, but Kaiser Motors’ 1953 acquisition of Willys altered its fate. Despite limited production, the Woodill Wildfire remains an iconic example of America’s postwar sports cars.

The Muntz Jet, produced from 1949 to 1954, is a notable American sports car developed by Frank Kurtis and later Earl “Madman” Muntz. Often seen as America’s first personal luxury car, it featured a two-door hardtop convertible design.

Despite its short production run, the Muntz Jet is a key part of postwar automotive history. With a V8 engine delivering up to 160 hp, it aimed to compete with European sports cars. Though production was brief, the Jet symbolizes American automotive ingenuity and remains a classic.

Maverick Sportster

The Allard J2, a British-American sports car from the postwar era, was designed for the American market and achieved motorsport success. Powered by various American V8 engines, the J2 gained attention for its racetrack performance. Notable drivers like Carroll Shelby and Zora Duntov found early success with the Allard J2.

The Nash-Healey, produced from 1951 to 1954, was America’s first postwar sports car. This three-seater luxury vehicle was a collaboration between Nash-Kelvinator and the British Donald Healey Motor Company. It used components from the Nash Ambassador, including a 3.8-liter inline-six engine with an aluminum cylinder head and two SU carburetors, producing 125 hp. Paired with a three-speed manual gearbox, the Nash-Healey offered a thrilling driving experience. It remains an iconic part of America’s automotive history.

The Powell Sport Wagon, created by brothers Hayward and Channing Powell in the mid-1950s, was an innovative and affordable “sportsman’s car.” Initially involved in radio production, they later moved to motor scooters and eventually cars.

Assembled in Compton, California, the car aimed to sell for under $1,000 (around $10,900 today). Using recycled Plymouth chassis from the 1940s, the Powell Sport Wagon offered a more refined ride and came in both station wagon and pickup truck formats.

The Excalibur J, designed by Brooks Stevens in the 1960s, was an American sports car priced at $2,000. It used inline-six engines from Willys and Henry J. Inspired by Stevens’ 1928 Mercedes SS roadster, the Excalibur J holds a unique place in post-war American sports car history. Despite its limited fame, its stylish design and powerful performance make it a notable example of America’s automotive past.

The Bocar XP-5, launched in 1959, is an American V8 sports car developed to rival European models. It featured a high-strength chromoly steel space frame and a suspension from the Porsche 356/VW Beetle. Typically equipped with a Chevrolet 283 or 327-cubic inch V8 engine, it produced 290 hp and weighed between 1,650 and 2,100 lbs.

Designed for racing enthusiasts, the XP-5 had a low-profile high windscreen and stood just 34 inches tall. While an average example might fetch around $160,000, the prized Meister Bräuser III sold for $412,500 at a 2016 auction. The Bocar XP-5 remains a symbol of American engineering and passion for sports cars.

The Griffith Series 200, a lightweight fiberglass sports car from the 1960s, combined a British-built TVR body with an American Ford V-8 engine to rival the Shelby Cobra.

Developed by New York Ford dealer Jack Griffith, only 192 units were produced, making it a rare and coveted car. It could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 4 seconds and reach a top speed of 150 mph. The Griffith Series 200 remains a notable piece of U.S. automotive history.

The Apollo GT, produced from 1962 to 1964, was an Italian-American sports car designed by Ron Plescia and engineered by Milt Brown. Featuring Italian bodywork and chassis by Intermeccanica, it came in two styles: a two-seater convertible and a fastback.

Powered by an American V8 engine, the Apollo GT offered both stunning looks and solid performance. Its rarity and distinctive design make it a notable, though often forgotten, piece of postwar automotive history.

Chaparral Cars, founded in 1962 by Hap Sharp and Jim Hall, was an innovative American racing team active from 1963 to 1970. Known for groundbreaking designs, they created the Chaparral 2J with a 650-horsepower Chevrolet engine.

Their cars featured cutting-edge technology, such as the 2F racing coupe and the Chaparral 2 with a Powerglide-derived two-speed transmission. Chaparral left a significant mark on postwar American sports car history.

The Studebaker Avanti, a personal luxury coupe designed by Raymond Loewy, was produced from June 1962 to December 1963 to compete with Ford and Chevy. It broke multiple land speed records and featured innovative safety features. Despite production issues and funding problems, it remains a cult classic.

The Bricklin SV-1, produced from 1974 to 1975, was an American sports car focused on safety and design. Named “Safety Vehicle One,” it featured gull-wing doors and a composite body made of acrylic resin bonded to fiberglass. With only about 2,850 units made, the Bricklin SV-1 remains a unique piece of American automotive history.

The Cheetah, built from 1963 to 1966, is an American sports car designed by Chevrolet tuner Bill Thomas to compete with the Shelby Cobra. Featuring an aluminum body, chrome-moly tube-frame chassis, and a 90-inch wheelbase, it was a formidable competitor. Today, the Cheetah remains an intriguing and often-overlooked piece of automotive history.

The Mosler MT900 is a high-performance sports car introduced in 2001 by the now-defunct Mosler Automotive. It has three submodels: the MT900R (racing version), the updated MT900S (2005), and the MT900S Photon (performance package).

The SSC Ultimate Aero, produced by SSC North America from 2004 to 2013, is a mid-engined sports car that held the world speed record from 2007 to 2010. It features a turbocharged 6.3-liter V8 engine producing 1,183 horsepower.

The Fisker Karma is a luxury plug-in hybrid sports sedan produced from 2011 to 2012. Known for its innovative design, it pioneered hybrid luxury vehicles. Measuring nearly 196 inches long and 78 inches wide, it’s slightly smaller than a 2018 Mercedes S-Class but classified as a sub-compact due to interior space.

The Byers SR100, a fiberglass sports car from the 1950s, was designed by Jim Byers. Its striking design led Road & Track editor John Bond to ask, “Is the Byers SR100 the World’s Most Beautiful Sports Car?” Built on various chassis with different engines, it was popular among racers and car enthusiasts. Today, the Byers SR100 is a cherished classic, embodying mid-century American innovation and style.

Designed by Bob Sorrell, the Sorrell SR-100 debuted in November 1953 at the Petersen Motorama in Los Angeles. Initially made from aluminum, it later switched to fiberglass for production. Its eye-catching bodywork won much admiration at the event.

With a sleek, racing-oriented style, the SR-100 was mounted on a Kurtis 500KK chassis, leading to the production of fiberglass versions for customers.